Moving up here

Your fire number

Your address up here is the number on the sign at the end of the driveway. It's what the ambulance and the fire department look for.

• The county's Land Information office assigns it, and the county doesn't charge for it. Your town most likely will, for the sign and putting it up. What that runs is up to the town.
• You can't get one for bare land. First you need a county sanitary or building (zoning) permit, and the driveway permit from the town, county or state, whichever road you come off of. A perc test or a driveway permit alone doesn't count.
• Mark right where the driveway meets the road; that spot sets your number. Then apply online. Figure on two weeks or more; the number comes by email and the town gets word too.
• The town orders and puts up the sign, and has 90 days to do it. Your number counts once the town reports the sign is up. Until then you can put up a temporary one.
• In the City of Eagle River, the city does addresses, not the county. On tribal land, ask the Lac du Flambeau tribe whether you need a permit first.
• Land Information, addressing715-479-3755Apply for an address · Addressing questions

From vilascountywi.gov, Vilas Addressing FAQ

Septic

• Every 3 yearsEvery septic system in the county has to be pumped or inspected at least once every three years, cabin or year-round house. If the tank's more than a third full of sludge and scum, it gets pumped. The county mails a colored card when you're due, first in April and again in September, and writes tickets to people who ignore it.
• Got the card but had it done last year? Call whoever did the work and have them report it to the county.
• New system or a fixYou can't put in your own. A licensed Wisconsin plumber applies for the sanitary permit and does the work, and the permit has to be issued before you can get a zoning or building permit for a new house. A plain in-ground system with no lift pump is $350 (fee list in effect since January 2024; the county has a hearing on new fees November 4, 2026).
• Buying a placeLook up what's on file for the property in the county's permit system before you sign. Permits from June 2016 on are scanned, and older ones too in a lot of the towns.
• County Zoning, sanitary officeCourthouse, 330 Court St., Eagle River715-479-3619Septic page and contractor lists · Look up permits

From vilascountywi.gov septic, vilascountywi.gov frequently asked questions, Fee Schedule 1 1 2024, vilascountywi.gov index

Building and land use

• County zoningThe county zones every town. The exception is Manitowish Waters and Presque Isle, where the county only handles land within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a river or creek; past that, it's the town.
• Town zoning tooArbor Vitae, Land O' Lakes, Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle and St. Germain have their own zoning, so you may need a town permit as well. In Arbor Vitae, get the town permit before the county one.
• What needs a permitPretty much anything you build: a deck, patio or shed, even one with no foundation, and replacing one that's already there. New windows, doors, siding or shingles don't. On the water, ask before you cut trees.
• What it runsA house is 20 cents a square foot of living space, a garage 10 cents, $80 minimum. A camper on a lot outside a campground is $300, and it also takes a septic system that meets code and the town's OK (fee list in effect since January 2024).
• Building inspectorThe county doesn't do house inspections. In Eagle River, Land O' Lakes, Phelps and St. Germain it's Baas Inspection Agency; everywhere else in the county it's RC Inspection Agency in Woodruff.Baas, 715-891-0323 · RC, 715-439-4222
• Lac du Flambeau reservationProjects inside the reservation can fall under tribal rules. The tribe's land management office:715-588-4445
• County ZoningCourthouse, Eagle River, weekdays 8 to 4. Each town has its own deputy zoning administrator for questions about a property.715-479-3620Permit application · Who covers your town

From vilascountywi.gov zoning, vilascountywi.gov frequently asked questions, Fee Schedule 1 1 2024, townofarborvitae.org, vilascountywi.gov index

Driveways

• On a county roadPermit from the County Highway Department, $100 for a permanent driveway. Mark the spot on both sides so they can check the width. If it needs a culvert, that's on you.715-479-4641Permit form
• On a town roadMost towns want a driveway permit; Lac du Flambeau doesn't. Ask at the town hall before you dig.
• On a state or US highwayThat's a WisDOT permit, form DT1504.WisDOT permits

From vilascountywi.gov, Cty Driveway Application, Fee Schedule dated 3 15 22, Vilas Addressing FAQ, wisconsindot.gov

Schools

Which district you're in goes by town. On the west side, the grade school district and the high school are separate.

• Northland PinesEagle River, Lincoln, Washington, Cloverland, Conover, St. Germain, Plum Lake and most of Land O' Lakes. Grade schools in Eagle River, Land O' Lakes and St. Germain; middle and high school in Eagle River.npsd.k12.wi.us
• North LakelandBoulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle and Winchester, plus a sliver of Land O' Lakes. The school's on County K in Manitowish Waters; high school is Lakeland Union.northlakelandschool.com
• Arbor Vitae-WoodruffThe Town of Arbor Vitae. High school is Lakeland Union.avwschool.org
• Lac du FlambeauThe Town of Lac du Flambeau. School's on Hwy 47 south; high school is Lakeland Union.ldf.k12.wi.us
• Lakeland Union High SchoolOn Hwy 70 in Minocqua. The high school for Arbor Vitae, Lac du Flambeau, Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle and Winchester.luhs.k12.wi.us
• PhelpsThe Town of Phelps. School's on Old School Road.phelps.k12.wi.us
• Near a town line? Look up the exact address on the state's map; your tax bill lists the district too.Look up an address

From data-wi-dpi.opendata.arcgis.com, 2026 Vilas County Directory August 28, 2026, npsd.k12.wi.us

Doctors and hospitals

• Hospitals with an emergency roomAspirus Eagle River Hospital on Hospital Road in Eagle River, Howard Young Medical Center (Aspirus) on Maple Street in Woodruff, and Marshfield Medical Center on Hwy 70 in Minocqua.Eagle River · Woodruff · Minocqua
• Clinic in Eagle RiverAspirus Eagle River Clinic, 930 E. Wall Street.715-477-3000
• County Public Health715-479-3656
• Emergencies, 911. Get your fire number up so they can find you.

From locations.aspirus.org hospitals, locations.aspirus.org hospitals, marshfieldclinic.org, 2026 Vilas County Directory August 28, 2026

Power, gas and phone

• ElectricIn the City of Eagle River it's Eagle River Light & Water. Out in the towns, the state's map gives Wisconsin Public Service most of the middle and west: Arbor Vitae, St. Germain, Cloverland, Lincoln and most of Lac du Flambeau and Boulder Junction. We Energies has the east end: Phelps, Conover, Land O' Lakes and parts of Washington and Plum Lake. Xcel has Manitowish Waters and most of Winchester and Presque Isle. Price Electric Co-op has part of Lac du Flambeau, and Bayfield Electric Co-op a piece of Winchester. The lines on that map overlap, so ask before you buy.
• Natural gasOn the state's map, WPS has gas territory around Eagle River, Lincoln, Washington, Arbor Vitae, Cloverland, Lac du Flambeau and part of St. Germain and Phelps; We Energies has the rest of the county. Territory isn't a gas main down your road, though. Ask the utility.
• Internet and cellDepends a lot on the road. Check an address on the state and federal maps before you count on it.Wisconsin broadband map · FCC map

From psc.wi.gov Maps, psc.wi.gov BroadbandMaps

The dump

Most towns run their own site with their own rules, and most are for their own residents. Hours as the towns post them:

• Arbor VitaeBrush and recycling only, on Schuman Road off North Farming Road and Hwy 51. Open weekends in spring and fall and every other weekend in summer: Fridays and Saturdays 8 to 4, Sundays 8 to noon. You need the town's permit. Trash goes to Highway G or Republic.Town site
• Boulder Junction1000 Old Highway K. Through October: Sundays 9 to 1; Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 9 to 5. Town garbage bags required, sold at the town office and library. The town doesn't post winter hours; the county's list has Tuesdays 1 to 5, Thursdays and Sundays 8 to 1, Saturdays 8 to 5.715-385-2220Town site
• CloverlandNo town site. Use Republic's station on Jack Frost Street in Eagle River (715-477-0077) or the Highway G landfill.Town site
• Conover4655 Transfer Station Road, off County K East by the fire hall; use the new entrance off K. May 1 to Labor Day: Sundays 8 to 1, Wednesdays 1 to 5, Fridays 8 to 1. After Labor Day: Wednesdays 1 to 4, Sundays 8 to 1. Republic runs it; punch cards at the site, 10 punches for $40.Town site
• City of Eagle RiverCurbside pickup by Republic Services. New in town? Call the city clerk.715-479-8682City site
• Lac du Flambeau2790 County H. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 9 to 4, Mondays 9 to noon. $5 a small bag, $10 a big one.Town site
• Land O' LakesOn Town Garage Road, town residents and taxpayers only. Memorial Day weekend through September: Sundays 9 to noon, Tuesdays 8 to 3, Thursdays noon to 6, Saturdays 8 to 4. October to Memorial Day: Tuesdays 8 to 3, Thursdays noon to 4, Saturdays 8 to 4. No tires or concrete.Town site
• LincolnLincoln's recycling center is Republic's station at 208 Jack Frost Street in Eagle River. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 9 to noon, all year.Town site
• Manitowish Waters6356 Transfer Station Road, half a mile north of town. May through October: Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays 8 to 2, Wednesdays noon to 6, Sundays 8 to noon. November through April: Mondays and Saturdays 8 to 2, Wednesdays noon to 6. You pay by the bag.Town site
• Phelps4351 DNR Vista Lane, off Strong Road. Summer (Saturday before Memorial Day to the Tuesday after Labor Day): Tuesdays noon to 3, Saturdays 9 to 2. Rest of the year: Saturdays 9 to noon. Silver Pine Services runs it now; buy a punch card at the site.Town site
• Plum LakeRecycling only, at Sayner (8921 Glenbrook Lane) and Star Lake (7912 N. Star Lake Road). The town site doesn't post hours; the county's list has Sayner on Saturdays 7 to 10, plus Fridays 1 to 3 in summer, and Star Lake Saturdays 10:30 to 11:30. Trash goes to Highway G or Republic.Town site
• Presque IsleMondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 8 to 4. Open Monday holidays. Yard waste goes on the sand pad to the right of the building.Town site
• St. Germain8021 Dump Road, off Pedycourt Road. Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 to noon, from the county's list; call the town hall to be sure.715-542-8024
• Washington1850 Rangeline Road, residents with the permit sticker that comes with the tax bill. Through April 25, 2027: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 8 to noon. Summer adds Mondays. A replacement permit is $40.Town site
• Winchester7208 County W, next to the town hall. Sundays 9 to 1; Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays 9 to 4.715-686-7500Town site
• Highway G landfill7001 County G, about 9 miles west of Hwy 45. Takes what the town sites won't, like tires and building waste. Weekdays 7:30 to 3, Saturdays 7:30 to 11:30. Run by the Landfill Venture Group, not the county.715-479-2938County page

Old tires, appliances or electronics? Your town office or County Zoning has vouchers worth up to $15 toward getting rid of them, two a year per household while the money lasts. Hours change with the seasons, so call before a long drive.

From townofarborvitae.org, townofboulderjunction.org, townofcloverland.wi.gov, townofconover.com, eagleriverwi.gov, tn.lacduflambeau.wi.gov, landolakeswi.gov, townoflincolnvilas.com, mwtown.gov, phelpswi.gov, presqueislewi.gov, town-of-washington.org, winchesterwi.com, vilascountywi.gov highway g landfill, Vilas County Municipal Recycling Sites, vilascountywi.gov solid waste recycling, 2026 Vilas County Directory August 28, 2026

Paying property tax

• Unless your town sets other dates, the first half is due January 31 and the rest by July 31. The first half, or the whole bill, goes to your town. The second half goes to the County Treasurer, starting February 1.
• In July, a few banks take second-half payments too: Associated in Eagle River and Boulder Junction, Nicolet in Eagle River, and Forward Bank in St. Germain.
• County TreasurerCourthouse, Eagle River, weekdays 8 to 4. Online and phone payments carry a card fee.715-479-3609Ways to pay · Look up your bill

From vilascountywi.gov payments, vilascountywi.gov index, pb060

Burning brush

• Every town in Vilas is DNR fire protection land. Burning a brush pile or a barrel whenever the ground isn't all snow takes a free DNR burning permit, and you check that day's rules after 9 in the morning before you light anything. Your town can have stricter rules. The DNR permit doesn't cover inside the City of Eagle River; ask the city.
• DNR burn permits1-888-947-2876Get a permit online · How it works

From dnr.wisconsin.gov, apps.dnr.wi.gov

License and plates

• Moving from another state? Get a Wisconsin driver's license within 60 days. You can title and plate your vehicles online with your out-of-state title.WisDOT new residents · What to bring
• DMV302 W. Pine Street in Eagle River, open only a couple of days a week.Days and hours

From wisconsindot.gov, trust.dot.state.wi.us

County offices

The courthouse is at 330 Court Street in Eagle River, open weekdays 8 to 4.

• Sheriff's officeEmergencies, call 911.715-479-4441
• County ClerkMarriage licenses and elections.715-479-3600
• Treasurer715-479-3609
• Register of DeedsDeeds and vital records.715-479-3660
• Veterans Service Office715-479-3629
• Zoning, septic and recycling715-479-3620
• Land InformationFire numbers, maps and property records.715-479-3655

From vilascountywi.gov, vilascountywi.gov index, 2026 Vilas County Directory August 28, 2026

Voting and your town

• You vote in your own town, not at the courthouse. Register online at MyVote up to 20 days before an election. After that, register at your town clerk's office or at the polls on Election Day. Bring proof of where you live, like a license or a utility bill with your address.MyVote Wisconsin
• When your town board meets is on our town boards page.Town boards
• Dog licenseEvery dog 5 months and older needs one each year. Get it from your town treasurer, and bring the rabies shot information.

From vilascountywi.gov index, vilascountywi.gov dog and kennel licenses, townofarborvitae.org

Mail and the library

• Zip codesArbor Vitae and Woodruff 54568, Boulder Junction 54512, Conover 54519, Eagle River 54521, Lac du Flambeau 54538, Land O' Lakes 54540, Manitowish Waters 54545, Phelps 54554, Presque Isle and Winchester 54557, Sayner 54560, Star Lake 54561, St. Germain 54558.
• LibrariesOlson Memorial in Eagle River, Ben Guthrie in Lac du Flambeau, plus Boulder Junction, Phelps (Eleanor Ellis), Manitowish Waters (Koller), Land O' Lakes, Sayner (Plum Lake), Presque Isle and Winchester.Olson Memorial · Boulder Junction

From 2026 Vilas County Directory August 28, 2026

Tribal nations

• Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians715-588-3303ldftribe.com

From ldftribe.com